This is an advanced seminar in the philosophical foundations of Asian thought and
practice. While it is impossible to separate religion and philosophy in the eastern traditions as is
often done in the west, we will focus our attention on the intellectual dimensions of Asian
religious life. We begin with Hinduism and its grounding in the Vedas and the Upanishads and
then turn to explore the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya,
Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. We will also examine the two heterodox schools of Hindu
philosophy, Jainism and Buddhism. This last perspective has gained such prominence
throughout Asia that we will devote a third of the course to its various philosophical
manifestations. The final third of the course will focus on the indigenous philosophies of China,
namely, Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, Mohism, and Daoism.

Description:

This syllabus was submitted to the Rhodes College Office of Academic Affairs by the course instructor.